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 * Copyright (c) 2003, 2004, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 * ORACLE PROPRIETARY/CONFIDENTIAL. Use is subject to license terms.
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package java.lang.reflect;

/**
 * WildcardType represents a wildcard type expression, such as
 * {@code ?}, {@code ? extends Number}, or {@code ? super Integer}.
 *
 * @since 1.5
 */
public interface WildcardType extends Type {

  /**
   * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the  upper
   * bound(s) of this type variable.  Note that if no upper bound is
   * explicitly declared, the upper bound is {@code Object}.
   *
   * <p>For each upper bound B :
   * <ul>
   * <li>if B is a parameterized type or a type variable, it is created,
   * (see {@link java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ParameterizedType}
   * for the details of the creation process for parameterized types).
   * <li>Otherwise, B is resolved.
   * </ul>
   *
   * @return an array of Types representing the upper bound(s) of this type variable
   * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the bounds refers to a non-existent type declaration
   * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the bounds refer to a parameterized type
   * that cannot be instantiated for any reason
   */
  Type[] getUpperBounds();

  /**
   * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the
   * lower bound(s) of this type variable.  Note that if no lower bound is
   * explicitly declared, the lower bound is the type of {@code null}.
   * In this case, a zero length array is returned.
   *
   * <p>For each lower bound B :
   * <ul>
   * <li>if B is a parameterized type or a type variable, it is created,
   * (see {@link java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ParameterizedType}
   * for the details of the creation process for parameterized types).
   * <li>Otherwise, B is resolved.
   * </ul>
   *
   * @return an array of Types representing the lower bound(s) of this type variable
   * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the bounds refers to a non-existent type declaration
   * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the bounds refer to a parameterized type
   * that cannot be instantiated for any reason
   */
  Type[] getLowerBounds();
  // one or many? Up to language spec; currently only one, but this API
  // allows for generalization.
}
